On Which Day of the Week Was the Torah Given?

The Torah was given on the 6th day of Sivan.1 The Talmud2 tells us that the Torah was given on Shabbat. It was on our national day of rest that G‑d revealed Himself to the Jewish nation and spoke to them the Ten Commandments. It is only appropriate that the Torah, which brings peace and harmony to its adherents—and by extension, to the entire world—was given on the Day of Rest.

Though this is not stated explicitly in the Scriptures, the Talmud extrapolates this fact from scriptural verses employing a method known as gezerah shavah, by which two verses which have strikingly similar terminology are compared.

The verse states: “Remember this day during which you have left Egypt, the house of bondage.”3Moses said this to the Jews on the very day in question—the day of the Exodus.

In the Ten Commandments we are told, “Remember the Shabbat day.”4 The almost identical language tells us that this verse was also stated on the very day in question—the Shabbat.

Incidentally, now that we follow a fixed calendar, the first day of Shavuot, the 6th of Sivan, can never fall on Shabbat. It can fall only on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Click here to learn more about the Jewish perpetual calendar.

Lawgiving on the Sinai
Disagree that the 10 commandments were given only to the Jewish nation! There was no nation yet only 12 tribes without a homeland! So, dear rebbe, do not put us in a favorite position which we do not deserve.The 10 commandments are forever and for all nations where ever. The Law was revealed to the 12 tribes in the Sinai and not to only one!
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michaeltyler txMay 30, 2017

in response to Richard Roeders:

An observance that even holds valid until today. Torah is for all nations because even though the Jewish people were the key there were people in the nations that wanted the Torah as is true today. I'm Michael a Noahide. Baruch Hashem...
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